Vicky Phelan has struck up a friendship with former RTE broadcaster Charlie Bird and is sharing it with her followers.
The pair began speaking on social media recently after Charlie’s emotional appearance on the Late Late Show. Living with a motorneuron disease, Charlie explained to Ryan what his day-to-day looks like, and the mental strain he often feels under.
“When I wake up in the morning and I’m lying in my bed, I think for one moment maybe this is all a dream. Then when I talk to Claire, or Tiger the dog, I realise I’m living this nightmare,” he explained.
Resonating with Vicky, the campaigner reached out to Charlie to commend his brave words:
“You were so vulnerable sharing so openly the terror of living with a disease that you know is going to take everything from you – your voice, your swallow, your mobility…yet your love of life, family and friends shone through. I have no doubt that you brought comfort to so many.”
Now, the pair have met in person, sharing their meeting on social media. The two shared a laugh and shed a tear over tea and scones, and have even made arrangements for future plans together.
“The tea & scones* have been had. The conversation flowed. We laughed. We cried. We hugged (apologies in advance to the Covid brigade!) We made plans to meet again” Vicky tweeted.
Sharing that the two intend to see more of Ireland together, including climbing Croagh Patrick next Spring she added:
“I have also been roped in to climb Croagh Patrick with Charlie & Claire and the whole of Ireland, it appears.”
When speaking of their friendship, Charlie said that the meeting was refreshing for him, “Her resilience is amazing and she is craic – she’s fantastic. We joked – it wasn’t all doom and gloom. She has a broad smile”
“It was really, really beautiful. It’s as if we had been friends all our lives,” he added.